Puck Daddy - NHL

The Pittsburgh Penguins victory celebration in the Steel City yesterday drew an estimated 375,000 fans, some of whom called it an unofficial holiday in the 'Burgh. To get a sense of what that looked like, check out this aerial view; that's not even counting the fans that piled into parking garages along the route and watched the parade.

As Mondesi's House pointed out (via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis(notes) was sporting some extremely fresh ink in celebration of the 2009 Stanley Cup championship. Unlike Dupuis in the majority of the playoffs, a new tattoo shouldn't be scratched.

Coming up: Sights and sounds from the Penguins parade, from an incredible football toss to goofy fan photos to one last parting shot at Marian Hossa(notes) of the Detroit Red Wings.

If you're looking for some great photo coverage of the event, look no further than Kiss 96.1 FM's gallery from the parade, The Pensblog's on-site coverage from yesterday and the boys' killer good Flickr mothership of different photos.

Here are a few snaps, clips and stories from the day ...

From Puck Buddy Joe T. comes this image of the parking garage fans. Ironically, after the parade, none of them could remember on which level they actually left their car.

Puck Buddy Jason T. sent along this banner that hangs from the under-construction new Penguins arena. The original design had the same font but featured Hossa's head on a spike; glad they toned it down. Speaking of Hossa ...

Subtle. From the Kiss FM gallery.

One of the best things about these parades is the sense of community between players and fans. In the arena, you're separated by distance, boards and glass; in a parade, it feels like everyone's celebrating the same victory within the same space. And that's pretty damn cool.

Here are Sidney Crosby(notes) and Marc-Andre Fleury(notes) doing their Homecoming King thing with the Cup:

Fleury seems like a happy fellow. Speaking of happy fellows ...

Max Talbot(notes) recreates his infamous "shhhhh" from the Philadelphia Flyers series. Again, it's still rather stunning that King Goofball scored two goals in a Game 7 to win the Stanley Cup. It would be like seeing Simon Pegg winning an Oscar --you're happy for him, you don't doubt he's got it in him, but that guy?

Just in case anyone had any questions about write-offs or tax code, the Penguins had their accountant on hand.

This sign read:

A. "Evgeni ... let us make sweet Pierogi together."
B. "Evgeni ... thank goodness the voters didn't care how terrible you were in the last three games."
C. "Evgeni ... is it true you're being traded to the Kings?"

Meanwhile, the Penguins fans performed a Queen song. We'll not go as far as to say they attempted to sing it:

From Puck Daddy Michael T., some on-site reporting

In the midst of the 350,000+ throng of people, a few fans fell prey to the heat and crowded conditions.

One girl, after nearly fainting against a building, had medical personnel rush through a compact crowd to assist her. After assuring them she was 'okay' and did not wish to be moved out of the crowd, the one paramedic helpfully told her that should her condition worsen, to 'just wave her hands.'

There were three defining crowd reactions from the parade's festivities. 

The first ovation came when soon-to-be-knighted Mario Lemieux arrived at the stage. The man certainly holds himself like Royalty.

The second roar from the masses came when Sidney Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury appeared with the Stanley Cup above their heads.

The third, and most notable, crowd response came when young Jordan Staal(notes) jumped off of his parade vehicle and began slapping hands with fans along the parade route. At that exact moment, roughly 50,000 teenage girls let out a collective loud and audible "Awwwwwwwwwww!!"

Finally, and most impressively, to pass time, fans near the stage engaged in the time honored tradition of throwing around "Hossa Sucks!" beach balls and, later, a mini-football.

Soon, a clear mission emerged: someone had appeared in the fourth story window of the church situated directly across from the Parade Stage, and for reasons I will never understand, it became the goal of everyone in attendance to see someone successfully throw the football through that window.

That someone accomplished this feat is not all that remarkable. That this person threw the ball across six lanes of road (plus a cement walkway in the middle) from the OPPOSITE side of the street's sidewalk STRAIGHT INTO A WINDOW FOUR STORIES OFF THE GROUND *is* remarkable.  The person in question threw a laser-accurate pass 50 yards through the air earned himself chants of "MVP!" and, ironically, "Kordell!" for his resemblance to the former maligned Steelers quarterback.

This is naturally a huge moment for our friends at The Pensblog ... but does it get any bigger than this?

Pretty sure we just heard The Chief's head explode over at Abel To Yzerman.

Finally, a parting shot at Marian Hossa, blue-collar Pittsburgh style:

That's from Tricky M on Flickr, via The Pensblog. In case you were wondering, underneath the shirt is the actual baggage Penguins fans were carrying since Hossa said the Wings had a better shot at the Cup.

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293 Comments

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  1. durrrr
    1. Posted by durrrr Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:21 am EDT

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    Perfect.
  2. BlueSinSav
    2. Posted by BlueSinSav Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:32 am EDT

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    It's permamnent, just like a championship!
  3. Deker
    3. Posted by Deker Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:32 am EDT

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    Hell yeah!!!!!
  4. btumpak
    4. Posted by btumpak Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:34 am EDT

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    Malkin to the Kings!
    trade staal.
  5. GT
    5. Posted by GT Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:38 am EDT

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    TO ALL PITTSBURGHERS:
    On the plus side, your team just won the Stanley Cup;
    On the downside, you live in Pittsburgh!
    Haha
  6. BlueSinSav
    6. Posted by BlueSinSav Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:38 am EDT

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    That football toss was freaking amazing.
  7. goaltender41
    7. Posted by goaltender41 Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:42 am EDT

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    A simple statement, without slamming any other cities: Pittsburgh sure seems like a great sports city (unless you're a baseball fan and you've been waiting three decades for glory to return). You've got the most championships in NFL history, the most dedicated superstar in the history of the NHL in Mario, and somehow you manage to celebrate without destroying your city. Enjoy your titles, and your new arenas for all three of your franchises.
    ' Guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuins!!!
  8. BD
    8. Posted by BD Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:45 am EDT

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    I heard Leahy had the cup tattoo'd on his buttocks. Comment?
  9. Deker
    9. Posted by Deker Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:45 am EDT

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    Disco Dan does look like an accountant.
  10. biff
    10. Posted by biff Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:46 am EDT

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    @GT
    The Economist begs to differ:
    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09161/976252-53.stm
    wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
  11. pensrox872971
    11. Posted by pensrox872971 Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:46 am EDT

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    i was there yesterday it was awesome sykora threw this homemade stanley cup at me it was sticky and covered in Champagne but its in my room now lolol
  12. www.MeetTheMatts.com
    12. Posted by www.MeetTheMatts.com Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:47 am EDT

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    Now, what if Pascal Perez Dupuis wins another Cup with a different team and has a bigger role? Does he add to the current tatoo his... Red Wings logo? Does he keep adding logos like the cup adds levels? We have three words for you Pasckie - USE HENNA.
  13. Antonio A
    13. Posted by Antonio A Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:52 am EDT

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    Did that guy throw the ball from his knees? In the words of Lou Brown, "Get him a uniform."
    Shouldn't hate on Hossa. He played hard when he was here. And if he stayed, maybe the Pens don't win the Cup and their salary situation would be a train wreck right now. Nobody's jobbing Conk-block, why Hossa? Should be thanking him for not accepting the offer.
    Let's go Pens!
  14. Christopher
    14. Posted by Christopher Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:52 am EDT

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    Wow... 375,000. About 1/3rd of the people who would have shown up in Detroit.
    Nice to know that many people in Western PA can break away from screwing the sheep.
  15. www.MeetTheMatts.com
    15. Posted by www.MeetTheMatts.com Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:53 am EDT

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    pensrox872971: That wasn't champagne.
  16. PENSBURGH
    16. Posted by PENSBURGH Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:53 am EDT

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    Championship City. Go Steelers Go Pens.
  17. McLean
    17. Posted by McLean Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:55 am EDT

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    @12 i'd think he would get a simliar beside it, on the other shoulder blade.
  18. pensrox872971
    18. Posted by pensrox872971 Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:57 am EDT

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    superstar actual tried to crowd surf so he got on top of the buriers but the cops ran over and got him down i think was alittle mad by the look on his face after they pulled him down
  19. Billkamm
    19. Posted by Billkamm Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:57 am EDT

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    @GT: Would you rather live in Detroit?
    Pittsburgh is an amazing city. It has a bad reputation because of its polluted past, but it has turned itself around so much that Obama decided to hold the G20 in Pittsburgh to showcase how a city can turn itself around. Come visit sometime. As biff pointed in post #10 Pittsburgh is consistently rated one of the best cities to live in the world.
  20. pensrox872971
    20. Posted by pensrox872971 Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:59 am EDT

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    @16 dont tell my i was there!
  21. pensrox872971
    21. Posted by pensrox872971 Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:00 pm EDT

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    @16 dont tell me i was there!
  22. A Yahoo! User
    22. Posted by A Yahoo! User Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:05 pm EDT

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    You know how you knock out someone from Pittsburgh?
    Slam the toilet seat down on their head when they're getting a drink.
  23. redemption_value
    23. Posted by redemption_value Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:13 pm EDT

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    5 World Series is not enough. 3 since 1960 is not enough. The time is overdue for the Pirates to rise up again. It has been too long.
    Mazeroski, Clemente, and Stargell's team ought not be met with the disrespect the Pirates now receive.
    The City of Pittsburgh is now 8th all-time for professional sports championships of North American cities. Get onboard Pirates and with the Steelers and Pens we can break into the top 5.
  24. GreenEyedLilo
    24. Posted by GreenEyedLilo Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:14 pm EDT

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    Even the fans are awesome in Pittsburgh! I was there in spirit, and I'll be there skipping Christmas with my family to watch a game, too! Love that Pascal Dupuis got a tattoo to commemmorate winning the Cup, though it would have been truly badass on Geno and delightfully surprising on Sid. Very nice art, whoever did it. Awesome how Talbot enjoyed his moment and Staal got out of the car. Hopefully they're all well and truly over Hossa now, and next year, it's "Marian who again?"
  25. Geoffrey S
    25. Posted by Geoffrey S Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:16 pm EDT

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    #15: sure, because there are a million people in Detroit with nowhere else to be on a weekday afternoon.

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